VFR Training Goggles

mscard88

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Oct 1, 2015
Messages
23,217
Location
Alabama
Display Name

Display name:
Mark
Guess they'll try to sell anything!

https://generalaviationnews.com/201...-student-pilots-looking-outside-the-airplane/

Sportys-VFR-Training-Goggles.png
 
Oh my! I will admit during my early VFR training the instructor threatened to cover the panel with a towel a few times to get me to look at the window. But this? Talk about a solution in search of a problem.

Where's the Sporty's logo? :)
 
Talk about a solution in search of a problem.

Oh, there's a problem all right. I think any CFI will tell you that there's a lot of panel-staring going on. Whether this is actually a solution is questionable, but there is certainly a problem.

I have indeed put a towel over the instruments with primary students. I especially remember having to do it during low-altitude maneuvers like turns about a point and s-turns across a road. It was amazing how, with a towel covering everything up, they actually held altitude and airspeed much better.

Pilots really do seem to like staring at the fancy gauges.
 
Those of us (speaking for myself, primarily) who grew up with MS Flight Simulator (Starting in the '80s on a Commodore 64), X-Plane, etc. etc. are very accustomed to staring at the gauges to 'gauge' (ha) what the plane is doing since the computer doesn't relay the sensory inputs through your backside like the real thing does. My instructor refers to me as his "Simulator Guy" and always has his trusty little suction cups ready to cover up any offending gauges that he catches me eye-balling. I like and respect him for that. :D
 
Those of us (speaking for myself, primarily) who grew up with MS Flight Simulator (Starting in the '80s on a Commodore 64), X-Plane, etc. etc. are very accustomed to staring at the gauges to 'gauge' (ha) what the plane is doing since the computer doesn't relay the sensory inputs through your backside like the real thing does. My instructor refers to me as his "Simulator Guy" and always has his trusty little suction cups ready to cover up any offending gauges that he catches me eye-balling. I like and respect him for that. :D

Maybe it was good to grow up in the olden days before everyone had a home computer...
 
Too funny. Just goes to show no one reads newspapers anymore
PaperOnPanel.jpg
 
Maybe it was good to grow up in the olden days before everyone had a home computer...
Well, the sims today are much, much better at generating an accurate sight picture of the horizon than they used to be. With a yoke and pedals you can get pretty close to an authentic experience, minus the g's. My instructor primarily covers up the attitude indicator so that I learn to recognize what a 30 degree bank looks like outside the windscreen.
 
Three thoughts:
1) Notice the models smirk? I just KNOW she's thinking "What a stupid ****ing product"
2) The improved version. One pair of goggles that can be switched between VFR mode, Simulated IFR mode, and ugly sunglasses mode.
3) people will buy just about anything. Have you heard about my shoes?

You can look for #2 on the Shark Tank next season!
 
Last edited:
A $1000 dollar headset, accompanied by a $2 pair of sunglasses someone took a Dremel to.
 
@SixPapaCharlie, ummm I mean, "Carl", has this review posted on the product page Mark linked above...

They work a little too well.

These things have pretty much ruined my entire weekend. I was flying with them and the entire flight was a mess.

I couldn't locate the trim wheel. I couldn't find the flaps or the gear switch so I had a gear up going really fast. Once the plane came to a stop, I was unable to locate my keys. It put me in a crap mood.

I forgot to take them off and when I got out of the plane, I kicked the back of the wing with my shin and I was forced to make eye contact with all of the young ladies at the FBO. I am not sure who was more confused by that, them or me.

Lucky for me, I had a spare set of car keys and I managed to drive home by feel.

I got home and had to pee so bad but still had the damn things on. The bathroom is soaked and it needs to be cleaned but My wife is really short so I have no idea where she is. I may not even be in the right house.

What a mess.
 
Those look like what my kids wore for basketball practice to get them to focus down court on offense and not at the ball.
 
I’ll probably get a pair,after I buy some pilot shoes.
 
I'm writing all of these ideas down with my Pilot pen.
 
You have to start with a strong foundation, a base layer; pilot underwear.
 
Flying commando is sometimes necessary when the weights and balances dont add up. When its fuel or underwear....
 
Hey I could have used that in my training, the G1000 TV was awesome to look at and chase numbers around...until my CFI would shut off the TV.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
I’ll probably get a pair,after I buy some pilot shoes.

That's the first thing I thought of. Does anyone here actually OWN a pair of those? I like the styling but...really?

11406.jpg


  • Flight System Engineered Heel Sliders (Patent Pending) for what?
  • Highly cushioned dual-density EVA foam midsole provides comfort in the heel and increased flex in the toe
  • G-Traction bi-lateral Grip System specifically designed to interface with and protect against abrasion from aircraft rudder pedals Is this a growing concern?
  • Ortholite performance insoles are cushioned, highly breathable, and anti-microbial
  • Oil Resistant, Slip Resistant, and Heat Resistant performance outsole
  • Abrasion-resistant laminated paneling
 
Last edited:
• cost 0.120 AMU plus.
 
Those of us (speaking for myself, primarily) who grew up with MS Flight Simulator (Starting in the '80s on a Commodore 64), X-Plane, etc. etc. are very accustomed to staring at the gauges to 'gauge' (ha) what the plane is doing since the computer doesn't relay the sensory inputs through your backside like the real thing does.
Then, you should have built this for an "accurate" simulation of the forces.
Amazing how much work someone will put into something to get it totally wrong.
(Not the video I was looking for - Youtube really needs a better way to find some random video that you watched 10 years ago...)
 
The user comments on the Sporty's website are pretty good. The guy that said they need to have mirrored lenses made me laugh.
 
Bryan, I mean Carl, did another one on the Sporty's gift card. Also a good entry into the portfolio of funny.
 
I installed some sort of app update this morning. One of the user comments was "This app is so good that my cat that ran away 12 years ago came back."
 
Oh my! I will admit during my early VFR training the instructor threatened to cover the panel with a towel a few times to get me to look at the window. But this? Talk about a solution in search of a problem.

Where's the Sporty's logo? :)

Mine used a clipboard.
 
Sporty's has always come up with super useful things. Anyone else remember the stick-on landing gear handle for fixed gear airplanes used to teach pilots that when they forgot it nothing bad happens?
 
Back
Top